Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Keep up the fundraising...

The MS Walk in Kemah is less than a month away and we're still $3,230.00 short of meeting our $6,000.00 goal! Let's really work hard these last couple of weeks to raise more funds!! Please e-mail or call me if you need suggestions or ideas on how to raise more money.

We can do it!! Let's go Angels!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

2 Months & 2 Weeks

The 2009 MS Walk at the Kemah Boardwalk is just around the corner! You know what that means....time to start the fund raising and registering!! I sent out a mass e-mail today to all of you who have either walked, donated, or done both in the past. We've got a lot of fun to make up for this year, since we didn't get to walk last year! And good news....the walk is in November this year, so hopefully we won't be dripping in sweat like the 2007 walk in September! Woohoo!!

Here's the link to my home page:
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Walk/TXHWalkEvents?px=3658802&pg=personal&fr_id=11721

And here is a link to the team page:
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Walk/TXHWalkEvents?team_id=158255&pg=team&fr_id=11721

Notice there are only 9 Angel's so far!! Let's get to work!! Send the links to everyone you think may want to participate!

Thank you in advance for your hard work, generosity, and support!!


Friday, July 10, 2009

The Spoon Theory

So, I just read this awesome story that brought me to tears and really hit home. My mom found it online and sent it to me. It is a little long, but I would really love for all of you to read it. It's called "The Spoon Theory." Basically, it's a great way to explain what myself, others with MS, and others with any disease or illness they live with go through on a daily basis. Luckily my daily struggles aren't quite as extreme as the author of this story. But, I do have daily struggles that most people don't realize because you can't physically see them. And I do have to "count my spoons" every day, especially during the heat of the summer. Here's the link and hopefully all of this will make more sense:

http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/navigation/BYDLS-TheSpoonTheory.pdf

Let me know what you think!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

This is going to be really long........

Wow, it's been super long since I last posted. I'm the worst blogger EVER!! Well, to update all of you.....I've been feeling well for the most part. I have some twinges and tingles here and there, but I've been able to pinpoint exactly what causes them....Not getting enough rest or getting too hot. So, the solution is pretty easy....get rest and NEVER go outside! Not really, I go outside, but I've got to be really careful and make sure I go inside to cool off often or stay in the pool or lake.

I know a lot of you have been asking about the MS Walk in Kemah. I asked you all to join my team several months ago during MS awareness week. I'll be getting back to all of you with details as it gets a little closer. It's not until November, so maybe like late August I'll start bugging you!!

I've been staying really busy with work. I'm working as an exercise physiologist in cardiac rehab at an amazing facility here in Longview. I'm loving it!! It's the most rewarding job I've had yet! I get to work with patients right after they've had a heart event, like a heart attack, open heart surgery, stents placed, etc. To see these patients come in discouraged, depressed, scared, and sometimes clueless as to what a heart healthy diet is or even exercise.....and by the end of their 12 weeks with us, they're totally changed! It's really amazing to watch:)

I did have a very difficult situation though at work, one that I hadn't had to encounter yet. I was doing my in-patient training in the hospital, which was about a month after I started the job. This consists of getting patients out of bed who just had open heart surgery to get them up and walking. Well, during my first week of training there were a lot of patients who needed A LOT of assistance. I don't know if you guys remember how my first bout of MS started, but it was caused by lifting a heavy book case. Then the next exacerbation was from lifting laundry detergent. So naturally, I get pretty nervous when I have to lift anything heavy.....especially a person!! I came home from work every day that week super anxious, nervous, and crying. I didn't want to have to tell my brand new supervisor that she hired a "dud." I was torn on whether to tell her or not. Doug and I decided my health was way more important than my job. So, I sat down with my supervisor and told her about my MS. I cried the entire time like a big baby!! I was surprised I cried because I'm not saddened by my MS. I guess it was just a situation I hadn't had to deal with yet and I was scared. I had no idea what my supervisor was going to think or say. I mean, my last employer knew me before I was diagnosed with MS. And he went through the whole thing with me and was SUPER supportive of me, along with all of my previous co-workers. I never really had to tell anyone at work the whole story because they all went through it with me. I was worried that my new supervisor and new co-workers would think of me as the new girl with MS or think that I'm not capable of fulfilling my job duties or think that I'm weak. Anyway, I sat down with my new supervisor and she was so supportive and understanding. She agreed that my health was #1! We found some ways to modify my in-patient duties and I'm pretty sure she doesn't think I'm a "dud." :) I also told my co-workers and they were all really nice about it. It's tough though because most people have heard about MS, but they really don't know what it is. But, maybe that's why I have it.....maybe I'm supposed to educate people and raise the awareness. Which in turn will hopefully lead us to a cure!!!

Anyway, on to other things....Longview is good. It's growing on me more and more each day. I still miss my family and friends like CRAZY, but we'll be near them again soon! Not soon enough:), but soon! We've made some great friends here. We've found the little restaurants and shops we like to go to, so it's kind of starting to feel like home. Apparently I've picked up a bit of an accent though! No one notices it here obviously, but everytime I go home to visit I get ragged on:)

We have a trip planned very soon that we cannot wait for!! We're going to Napa Valley in mid-July to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary!! Can ya'll believe it's been 5 years??!!

I think I've blabbed on enough now. I had so much to update you on though. I promise it won't be as long next time. I forgot how good it feels to blog!! Thanks to all of you who have asked about me and my blog. It's nice to know you guys are checking in on me:)

Stay cool in this Africa heat!!!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Day 6 of MS Awareness Week

Okay, your final task for MS Awareness Week is......DONATE!!!

Join the movement and donate now to create a world free of MS. Whether you want to make a one-time or recurring gift, a planned gift, fundraise at our events or give at your workplace, you’ll know your contribution is helping to fund cutting-edge research, drive change through advocacy, facilitate professional education, and provide programs and services to help people with MS and their families move their lives forward.

There are several options when donating. Check out the link below:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/donate/index.aspx

You can also go to my MS Walk page and donate to Nicole's Angels.

Thank you so much for your generosity and support!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Day 4.....sorry I skipped day 3.....of MS Awarness Week

So sorry I slacked off yesterday, it was a crazy day. I started my new job yesterday.....and I love it!!! I'm working in cardiac rehab as an exercise physiologist. The girls I work with are AWESOME and so is the facility I'm working in. It's brand new, half a mile from my home, it has cardiac rehab, physical therapy, a full fitness center with several pools, great fitness classes, and a full service spa!! I'm so blessed and thankful for this opportunity.

Okay, back to business!! The task for Day 4 of MS Awareness week is to Walk MS. You can do that by joining my team, Nicole's Angels. This will be our 3rd year! We unfortunately didn't get to walk last year due to Hurricane Ike, but we still raised a lot of money. To join my team or donate, check out my website:

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Walk/TXHWalkEvents/2032375347?pg=team&fr_id=11721&team_id=158255

We're going to do the Kemah walk again. Thank goodness they chose a cooler time of year for 2009, Saturday, November 7th. YAY!!!! Still in hurricane season, but hopefully this year we'll luck out. If you can't walk that day, please make a donation to the team.

If you're not a walker and would prefer to Bike MS , check out the following website:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/get-involved/events/bike-ms/index.aspx
It's a totally different event, but all for the same cause!

I really encourage you to walk with us though at the Kemah Boardwalk in November. We had a blast in 2007! Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the walk, signing up, or donating. And please pass my walk website on to everyone you know to have them sign up or donate. Our goal this year is $6,000, so I need your help!!

Thank you in advance for your support!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Day 2 of MS Awareness Week: VOLUNTEER

I hope everyone sent their e-mails to Congress yesterday!! Thank you to everyone who did! Today's task is..............VOLUNTEER

Check out this link to find ways to volunteer:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/get-involved/volunteer/index.aspx

Last year I volunteered in LaGrange at the MS 150 it was such a rewarding experience! Check out my posting from April of last year to read about it and see pics. I would highly recommend volunteering at the MS 150 this year. There are a million ways to help! And you don't have to drive all the way to LaGrange, you can help in Houston when the bikers leave and/or return. As of yesterday, they still need 3,000 volunteers!!! Here's a link to sign up to volunteer at the MS 150, just click on "Sign Up as a Volunteer":
http://biketxh.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/TXHBikeEvents?pg=entry&fr_id=10222

Unfortunately I won't be able to help at the MS 150 this year. Since I live so far from everything now except for Louisiana, Doug and I can't make the haul. We will be traveling the weekend before and after, so we have to stay in town that weekend. I'm super bummed because we had so much fun last year. I would highly recommend it!! Let me know if you have any questions on the volunteer process.

There are other ways to volunteer though if you're busy the weekend of the MS 150. Just click the first link I gave you and choose!!

Please send me comments or e-mails this week letting me know what you're doing to advocate, volunteer, and raise MS awareness. I've already received a few e-mails! Keem them coming!!!

Stand by for tomorrow's task.....